Summer washout to hit UK: Month-worth of rain to drench Britain in next 24 hours

DOWNPOUR: A water spout spotted at Thorpeness as Britain prepares to be drenched

After weeks of soaking up the sun, the skies are ready to open – dropping a deluge of water over the next week.

In the next 24 hours, forecasters have predicted that more water will fall compared to the whole of July.

Predictions suggest that in some areas up to 200mm (0.8in) of rain is going to plummet down on the UK.

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WET: A warm July means the heavens are about to open

Sun-lovers who were promised a extended heatwave will be disappointed as this month looks to be a washout.

There has been a flurry of bets that Britain will bask in a heatwave before the month is out, but weather watchers are backing rain.

Bookies have slashed their odds on this August being the hottest on record from 5/1 to 3/1.

“July was obviously very, very dry”

Met Office forecaster

A Met Office forecaster said: "July was obviously very, very dry, across parts of south-west Britain in particular, so there is a good chance we could see more rain across parts of the South West in the next 24 hours on Monday than we've seen in the entire month."

Although heat-worshippers will be retreating to their houses, the rain will be a welcome relief to green-fingered gardeners with parched lawns.

The forecaster added: "It will be a real topsy-turvy week - no two days quite the same.

"But in the next five to seven days we will all see some rain at times - useful rain for those who have got parched gardens; obviously not great for those under canvas or trying to enjoy the beach."

Next week there is expected to be a greater chance of rain and strong winds in the north-west, while the south-east will be a little drier.

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FORECAST: Weather gurus expect bad weather over next week

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OVER: Many were expecting more of the heatwave

Temperatures will be at a low 20Cs in the south and high teens in the north.

The end of the month will be a little warmer but the Met Office warned there was "certainly no strong signal for any prolonged period of hot weather".

But forecasters tried to give a glimmer of hope for a brighter future.

He added: We saw how quickly in July it can turn hot for a day and then be all gone the next; it's not completely ruling out some hot summer weather but it's unlikely to be long-lived event if it was to come off."

Heatwave is on it's way back

Wednesday, 20th July 2016

As temperatures in Britain soar to a staggering 36C, millions of Brits head out to enjoy the sunshine.

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Henry Nicholls SWNS.com

Lily and Georgia make the most of the sweltering weather today at Portishead Lido in Somerset

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WINTER: With the end of summer looming it's beginning to look a lot like winter

It comes as no surprise as The Isle of Wight experienced the driest July on record, with only 1mm (0.04in) of rain falling over the month.

A second Met Office forecaster, Simon Partridge, said: "According to records it is certainly the driest July on the Isle, certainly at St Catherine's Point.

"But there is rain on its way - a weak little band of rain that has already crossed most of Cornwall and Devon."